Lubricator-valve for steam-chests.



P. W. EDWARDS. LUBRICATOR VALVE FOR STEAM OHBSTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1908. v

' Patented Jan-10, 1911.

m: NORRIS PETERS 0a., wAsHlNnTaN, n. c.

ATENT FFIQE.

FRANK W. EDVIARDS, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGOLUBRI- CATOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LUBBICATOR-VALVE FOR STEAM-CHESTS.

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Application filed May 28, 1908.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK W. EnWARDs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubricator-Valves forSteam-Chests, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of this invention is to provide a valve for controlling thesupply of lubricant to the steam-chest of a locomotive or other enginein such way as to prevent obstruction by varying steam pressure.

Illustrating the invention as used in connection with acondensation-displacement sight-feed lubricator, it comprehends a valveopening on one side to the lubricator, which has a steam connection, andon the other side to the steam-chest, with an interposed always-openchoke-plug, and an automatic check-valve so arranged in a bypass aroundthe choke-plug as to be responsive to Variations in steam pressure, andserving as a steam-pressure equalizer.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is anoutline elevation of suflicient of a lubricator installation on alocomotive to show the arrangement, the tallow-pipe, valve andsteam-chest being in section, and the tallow-pipe broken out. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of the valve. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of thevalve. Fig. 4 shows in bottom plan view and partial longitudinal sectionthe check-valve cap. Fig. 5 shows in elevation and plan the check-valve.Fig. 6 shows in elevation and plan the choke-plug. Fig. 7 shows amodified form of check-valve and its cap, the cap being in partial longitudinal section. Fig. 8 shows in elevation and bottom plan the cap ofFig. 7. Fig. 9 shows in elevation and plan the check-valve of Fig. 7.

The general installation is in substance the same as in my Patent No.735,074, dated August 4, 1903, and like parts are herein similarlydescribed, namely:

1 may represent a steam-chest with slidevalve and ports of any approvedconstruction.

2 is a fragment of a boiler.

3 is a pipe leading from the steam-space of the boiler to the fitting 4,which communicates through pipe 5 with the lubricator- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 435,487.

condenser 6, and also through pipe 7 withthe oil-receiving chamber 8 ofthe upper feed-arm 9 of the lubricator. The supply of steam iscontrolled by valve 10 in steampipe 3. The tallow or oil delivery pipe11 is coupled to the chamber 8, and thence extends to and is connectedwith my novel chokevalve herein 'shown as applied directly to thesteam-chest.

The valve-casing 12 has an external screwthread 13 for connection wit-hthe tallowpipe 11, and an internal screwthread 14 for connection with anipple inlet 15 into the steam-chest. The casing has a diaphragm 16across its passageway 17, and in this diaphragm is fixed a choke-plug18, having the always-open longitudinal through bore 19, of smalldiameter, intersected above the diaphragm, or on the lubricator side, bytransverse bores 20. A lateral hollow projection 21 is provided withinwhich is a bypass 22 connecting the passageway 1. on opposite sides ofthe diaphragm, and the diaphragm and part of the wall of the casingbelow it form a seat for a check-valve 23. This I check-valve is mountedin a cap 24 screwed into and closing the projection 21. The in ner endof the cap 24 has a perforated wall 25 in which the check-valve stem isguided, and externally the longitudinal wall of the cap is reduced as at26. The hollow interior of the cap 24 forms a pressure chamber 27 forthe check-valve.

Instead of using a cap with a bottom wall as described, I may use a cap28 having an open-ended chamber 29, Figs. 7 and 8, and in this case thecheck-valve 30 has a cylindrical stem 31 with one or more wedgeshapedchamfers 32 which form a passage or passages to admit pressure into thecap back of the check-valve. The cap is rabbeted at its inner end, as at33, and crossgrooved at 34. These and other variations are within theprinciple and scope of the invention.

The operation is as follows When steam from the boiler is turned intothe lubricator through valve 10, the pressure extends through pipe 7 tothe upper feed-arm 9 and thence into the oil bowl and oil-delivery ortallow-pipe 11. Under these conditions, the check-valve will be seated,and the steam flow into the steam-chest through the choke-' plug opening19. When the locomotive engine throttle is opened, the pressure flowsinto the steamchest and ascends into the valve casing in contact withthe check-valve and the choke-plug. Under normal conditions, with thethrottle open, the check-valve would remain seated and the steam fromthe lubricator would be passing through the choke-plug, carrying thelubricant with it down into the steam-chest. As the locomotive continuesto run under harder service, as at high speed, and in ascending grades,the steam is compressed more or less within the steam-chest and thus hasa tendency to resist the pressure'coining through the choke plug, andthis increased pressure will also act against the check-valve and unseatit and force it against its cap. Upon occurrence of such contingencies,the passages constituting the by-pass are brought into directcommunication one with the other, and thus is effected an equalizationof pressure. By this means a permanent balance may be maintained on thelubricator, and a perfect equalization of pressure within thetallowpipe, so that the flow of oil will always be toward thesteam-chest, assisted by the steam circulation or by gravity. When thepressure in the steam-chest drops below that of the pressure in thetallow-pipe, the checkvalve is again seated due to the increasedpressure in its cap chamber back of it, and the flow of the oil throughthe choke-plug is maintained. Then the throttle valve is closed and theengine comes to rest, the checlcvalve remains seated and the smallthrough bore of the choke-plug prevents an increased flow of steam tothe steam-chest, and thus obviates any chance for a pressure to form inthe steam-chest sufliciently high to start the engine.

It will be understood that the reduced portions of the inner ends ofthe'check-valve caps and the perforations in the bottom wall of one formand the face grooves in the edge of the other form, afford clearancesfor a very free circulation of steam around the valve on the cap side.

lVhen the choke-plug 18 becomes steamworn beyond the limit of wear, itmay be removed readily by unscrewing it from its diaphragm and replacingit with one having standard size openings. Further, unlike some movablechoke-valves, or those exposed to movable parts, there is no possibilityof the bores or holes being closed or partly closed from batteringaction.

By the invention described is afforded an equalizing means not liable toget out of order, and which permits the back pressure from thesteam-chest to equalize in the valve chamber with the boiler pressurepresent in the tallow-pi 9e, thus preventing a retarding of the flow 0oilto the steam-chest and cylinder when there is an excess of pressurepresent in the steam-chest. The fact that this equalization takes placebetween the steam-chest and the oil pipe due to the opening of thecheck-valve, insures a constant delivery of lubricant to the steam chestat all times, either through the choked opening 19 of the choke-valve 18or through the bypass. This equalization of pressure results inmaintaining a perfect balance on the lubricator.

As already indicated, the choke-plug itself is fixed in the diaphragmand its longitudinal through-bore is always open and the transverseintersecting bores aid in keeping this longitudinal through-bore alwaysopen and prevent clogging by admitting steam to the longitudinal bore.Inasmuch as the choke-plug is stationary and its transverse bores arelocated on the lubricator side, they too remain always open and free.

lVhat I claim is 1. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having apassageway adapted for connection with the lubricator mechanism on oneside and the steam-chest on the other, a diaphragm arranged crosswise ofsaid passageway, an always-open choke-plug stationarily held in saiddiaphragm, and an automatic check-valve arranged in a by-pass leadingfrom one side of the diaphragm to the other.

2'. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted forconnection with the lubricator mechanism on one side and the steam-cheston the other, said passageway having an intersecting diaphragm and analwaysopen choke-plug in said diaphragm, combined with an automaticcheck valve arranged in a by-pass around the diaphragm.

3. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted forconnection at one end with the lubricator mechanism and at the other endwith the steam-chest, an always-open choke-plug arranged in saidpassageway, a bypass connecting said passageway around the choke-plug,an automatic check-valve in said by-pass, and a chambered cap in whichsaid check-valve is mounted and having a pressure chamber back of thecheck-valve, whereby pressure upon opposite sides of the choke-plug maybe equalized.

4. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted forconnection at one end with the lubricator mechanism and at the other endwith the steam-chest, a diaphragm arranged across the passageway, aby-pass intersecting the diaphragm, an always-open choke-plug fixed insaid diaphragm, an automatic check-valve arranged in the by-pass, a capin which the checkvalve is arranged and having a pressure chamber backof the check-valve, said checkvalve operating under variations inpressure above and below the diaphragm to equalize such pressure toinsure the flow of lubricant to the engine.

5. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, f nmtic check-valve arranged ina by-pass eX- 10 having a passageway adapted for connection tending fromone side of the diaphragm to with the lubricator mechanism on one sidethe other.

and the steam-chest on the other, a dia- In testimony whereof I havehereunto set phragin intersecting the passageway, an a1- my hand this25th day of May, A. D. 1908. Ways-open choke-plug screwed into the dia-FRANK W. EDWVARDS. phragin and thereby held stationary therein,VVitnesses:

said choke-plug having a through-bore and GEO. M. DICKSON,

intersecting transverse bores, and an auto- WILLIAM S. FURRY.

